Safety rigging for roofers



March 1, 1966 'r. J. JACKSON SAFETY RIGGING FOR ROOFERS F 'iled June so, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 mm. mm cm J W J M 5 0 m Z T w w I Q LH Q March 1, 1966 T. J. JACKSON 3,237,717

SAFETY RIGGING FOR ROOFERS Filed June 30, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Thomas J Jackson 1N VENTOR.

United States Patent 3,237,717 SAFETY RIGGING FOR ROOFERS Thomas J. Jackson, P.O. Box 992, Robstown, Tex. Filed June 30, 1964, Ser. No. 379,264 6 Claims. (Cl. 182-3) This invention relates to apparatus adapted to be mounted on a roof structure providing facilities for releasably anchoring a roofer at any location on the roof.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide roof rigging whereby a roofer may be safely anchored to any desired location on the roof so that he will be free to devoted all efforts toward construction or repair of the roof structure.

In accordance with the foregoing object, the apparatus of the present invention involves the spaced mounting of rigidly interconnected brackets on the roof surfaces held in position thereon by anchoring cable sections. Facilities are thereby provided for movably mounting anchoring guide assemblies through which a roofer may be safely held on any sloping surface of the roof while he devotes his efforts toward construction or repair of the roof structure. As a result of the rigging, not only will accidents be avoided in the building trades, but a considerable savings in time and labor costs eifected.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a building structure on which the roof rigging of the present invention is installed.

FIGURE 2 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line -22 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 33 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 44 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 5-5 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of one of the side brackets forming part of the roof rigging.

FIGURE 7 is a partial perspective view of a portion of the roof rigging.

FIGURE 8 is a partial side elevational view of a modified form of roof rigging.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, and initially to FIGURES 1 and 2, it will be observed that the roof rigging generally denoted by reference numeral 10 is installed on one form of roof structure 12. The roof structure illustrated is of the A type including sloping side surfaces 14 and 16 interconnected at a peak po tion 18. It will of course be appreciated, that the rigging may be installed on roof structures of different shapes involving sloping surfaces and having peak portions.

The roof rigging includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced apex brackets 20, the number and spacing of such brackets depending upon the dimensions of the roof structure and the strength of the materials utilized in connection with the rigging. The apex brackets are rigidly interconnected in spaced relation to each other by an elongated tubular rod member 22 thereby spacing the brackets in straddling relation to the peak portion 18 of the roof structure. An equal number of side brackets 24 are disposed on each sloping side surface 14 and .16 of the roof structure, laterally aligned with each of the apex brackets and disposed adjacent to the overhanging edges 26 of the roof structure. The side brackets 24 are also rigidly interconnected in spaced relation to each other by elongated tubular rod members 28. Each of the apex brackets is also interconnected with the laterally aligned side brackets by means of a flexible cable section 30. The opposite ends of the cable sections are secured to the ground by the ground anchors 32 in spaced relation to the side walls 34 of the building. It will therefore be apparent, that the tension each cable section will exert a pull on opposite sides of the apex brackets so as to firmly hold it in straddling relation to the peak portion :18 of the roof structure. Also, the side brackets 24- will be prevented from sliding off the roof surfaces by the tension in the cable sections which clamp the side brackets to the roof surfaces.

Referring now to FIGURE 3 in particular, it will be observed that each of the apex brackets 20 includes a tubular portion 36 vertically spaced above the peak portion 18 of the roof structure. Connected to the tubular portion in downwardly diverging relation thereto, are spaced leg elements 38 and 40 interconnected by cross brace elements 42. The spaced leg elements are interconnected by parallel foot portion 44 and 46 which respectively rest on the sloping surfaces 14 and 16 of the roof structure. The cable section encircles the tubular portion 36 by being threaded through the ring element 50, so that when the cable section is under tension, it will be firmly clamped to the tubular portion. Each of the apex brackets is also rigidly secured to the rod member :22 which extends to the. tubular portion 36, by means of a set screw element 4 8.

As more clearly seen in FIGURES 4 and 6, each of the side brackets 24 also includes a tubular portion 52 spaced above the surface of the roof by means of spaced, downwardly diverging leg elements 56. The leg elements are interconnected with parallel spaced foot portions 58 which in turn are interconnected with cross element 60 forming a rectangular base resting on the sloping surface of the roof structure. The cable section 30 also encircles the tubular portion 52 of the side bracket and is clamped thereto when the cable section is under tension by being threaded through the ring element 62.

Referring now to FIGURES l, 2 and 5, it will be observed that an anchoring guide assembly 64 is movably mounted by the laterally spaced rod members 22 and 28 between each of the spaced brackets. Facilities are thereby provided for removably anchoring a roofer in any position between any of the spaced brackets. The anchoring guide assembly therefore includes a flexible strap element '66 movably mounted on each of the elongated rod members, as for example the rod member 22 shown in FIGURE 5. When under tension, the strap element will be clamped in place on the rod member inasmuch as it is threaded through the ring element 68 in encircling relation to the rod member. The opposite ends of the strap element 6-6 are secured to hook ring elements 70 to which a releasable hook member 72 may be anchored. Each of the hook members 72 rotatably carries a roller 74 about which an endless flexible belt 76 is entrained. Accordingly, the endless flexible belt will extend between the rod members 22 and 28. As more clearly seen in FIGURE 7, hook ring elements 78 and 80 are secured to the flexible belt 76. An operating cable 82 may be hooked to one of the ring elements and extend over the rod member at the peak portion of the roof from one sloping side to the other as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. The other one of the hook ring elements 78 and 80 may be hooked to a belt anchor r, St

84 of any suitable type by means of which the roofer is fastened to the endless belt 76. It will therefore be apparent, that the roofer working on one side, 14 for example of the roof structure, will be held in position by the flexible belt 76 and may also be vertically displaced along the roof slope by a helper on the other side 16 of the roof structure, controlling movement of the endless belt '76 through the operating cable 32 connected to the belt and guided by the rod member 22.

The roof rigging described with respect to FIGURES 1 through 7, may be modified as illustrated in FIGURE 8 wherein an additional side bracket 86 is held in position on the vertical wall portion 88 of the building so that the cable section 2%) may be anchored to the ground by the ground anchor 32 more closely spaced to the side wall portion 88. In this manner, the interconnecting rod member 90 which rigidly interconnects the brackets 86 may support and anchoring guide assembly such as described in connection with the anchoring assembly 64 providing support for a worker on the side wall 88 of the building. A releasable anchoring connection 92 may therefore be provided on the window frames, for example, mounted on the side wall 88 of the building. Other arrangements based upon the roof mounted rigging may also be resorted to for releasable support of the workmen on various surfaces of a building.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is .not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A safety rigging for holding roofers on a sloping roof having a peak portion comprising a plurality of spaced apex brackets resting on the roof in positions straddling the peak portion thereof, a plurality of side brackets removably resting in positions on the roof respectively aligned with said apex brackets, a plurality of cable sections interconnecting said apex brackets with the side brackets in adjustably spaced relation to each other, ground anchor means for securing opposite ends of said cable sections in the ground to hold the brackets in said positions resting on the roof, laterally spaced elongated rod members respectively interconnecting the apex brackets and the side brackets in said adjustably spaced relation to each other, flexible belt means operatively interconnected with the rod members between said spaced brackets, and means for removably anchoring a roofer to the belt means for establishing anchoring points at any location on the roof.

2. A safety rigging for holding roofers on a sloping roof having a peak portion comprising, a plurality of spaced apex brackets resting on the roof straddling the peak portion thereof, a plurality of side brackets respectively aligned with said apex brackets on the roof, a plurality of cable sections interconnecting said apex brackets with the side brackets aligned therewith, ground anchor means for securing opposite ends of said cable sections in the ground to hold the brackets in positions resting on the roof, laterally spaced elongated rod members respectively interconnecting the apex brackets and the side brackets in spaced relation to each other, flexible guide means movable interconnected with the rod members between said spaced brackets for establishing anchoring points at any location on the roof, and means for removably anchoring a roofer to the guide means, said guide means comprising, hook means movably mounted on said elongated rod members between the brackets, rollers carried by the hook means and an endless flexible belt entrained about the rollers carried by the hook means on the laterally spaced rodmembers, said endless belt having spaced anchor elements secured thereto.

3. The combination of claim 2 including flexible operating means secured to one of said spaced anchor elements of the guide means for displacement of the endless belt between the rod members, the other of the anchor elements being engageable by the removable anchoring means fastened to the roofer.

4. The combination of claim 1 including flexible operating means extending over the rod member which interconnects the apex brackets for displacement of the belt means between the rod members.

5. In combination with a roof having sloping surface forming a peak portion, rigging for releasably anchoring a roofer at any location on one side of the peak portion comprising, a plurality of brackets resting on said sloping surfaces, spacing means rigidly interconnecting said brackets, means connected to said brackets for removably holding the same on the sloping surfaces, roller means connected to the spacing means, an endless flexible belt mounted by said roller means on said one side of the peak portiomfiexible operating means connected to said belt and guided by the spacing means for displacing the belt, and releasable anchoring means connected to said belt for movement thereof by the belt.

'6. In combination with a roof having sloping surfaces forming a peak portion, rigging for releasably anchoring a roofer at any location on one side of the peak portion comprising, a plurality of brackets resting on the sloping surfaces straddling the peak portion, a spacing rod rigidly interconnecting the brackets, means spaced from said brackets on either side of the peak portion for holding the brackets on the roof, endless belt means connected to the spacing rod on one side of the peak portion, flexible operating means connected to the belt means and guided by the spacing rod for displacing the belt means from the other side of the peak portion, and releasable anchor means connected to said belt means on said one side of the peak portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 269,018 12/1882 Dawson 20-1 777,441 12/ 1904 Small 201 955,159 4/1910 Hillman 182-45 2,814,533 11/1957 Van Horn 182 45 XR 3,071,204 1/1963 Piltingsrud 182184 X HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

R. P. MACHADO, Assistant Examiner. 

5. IN COMBINATION WITH A ROOF HAVING SLOPING SURFACE FORMING A PEAK PORTION, RIGGING FOR RELEASABLY ANCHORING A ROOFER AT ANY LOCATION ON ONE SIDE OF THE PEAK PORTION COMPRISING, A PLURALITY OF BRACKETS RESTING ON SAID SLOPING SURFACES, SPACING MEANS RIGIDLY INTERCONNECTING SAID BRACKETS, MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID BRACKETS FOR REMOVABLY HOLDING THE SAME ON THE SLOPING SURFACES, ROLLER MEANS CONNECTED TO THE SPACING MEANS, AN ENDLESS FLEXIBLE BELT MOUNTED BY SAID ROLLER MEANS ON SAID ONE SIDE OF THE PEAK PORTION, FLEXIBLE OPERATING MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID BELT AND GUIDED BY THE SPACING MEANS FOR DISPLACING THE BELT, AND RELEASABLE ANCHORING MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID BELT FOR MOVEMENT THEREOF BY THE BELT. 